Chicago Magazine’s July Issue: Summer in the City

Story highlights from the July 2012 issue of Chicago magazine.

Chicago magazine’s July issue hits newsstands Thursday, June 14th. To schedule an interview with one of our writers or editors, please contact Allison Roche at aroche@chicagomag.com.

The Alfresco Everywhere Guide to Summer (Cover Story) - Summer is Chicago’s greatest season. Why would you stay inside? With Chicago magazine’s definitive guide to the best dining, drinking, shopping, concertgoing, flower-­‐smelling, and fun-­‐having out of doors this summer, you don’t have to. From Andersonville to Hyde Park, the feature maps out itineraries in 10 alfresco-­‐friendly city neighborhoods, with don’t-­‐miss stops along the way—and some stellar suburban offerings too. Plus: a listing of today’s 10 best rooftop bars and 10 best waterfront bars—whether for meeting colleagues after work or wowing friends in from out of town. This story gives you everything you need to plan the best summer ever.

Most Eligible Chicagoans - The 20 accomplished and attractive singles featured, who range in age from 20s to 50s, include Chicago Bear Kahlil Bell, former Top Chef contestant Grayson Schmitz, FOX Chicago anchor Robin Robinson, and WXRT DJ Jason Thomas. Chicago magazine, in partnership with The Auxiliary Board of Northwestern Memorial Hospital, will introduce all 20 singles at the 12th annual Summer Lovin’ benefit, held Friday, June 15, at the Museum of Contemporary Art and hosted by NBC anchor Stefan Holt and meteorologist Cheryl Scott.

The Cluster Conundrum - The recent deaths of three Lake Forest teens on the Metra tracks left the community grappling for answers. Research into the phenomenon of cluster suicides could help explain such tragedies—and offer ideas for preventing others.

The Gold Standard - Among the many Chicago-­‐area athletes who hope to go for the gold at the London Olympics (opening day: July 27), we introduce six standouts you won’t want to miss. Three are already on the Olympic team, and three more have qualifying trials that will be televised in the coming days: diver Christina Loukas (June 21 and 24), swimmer and YouTube star Matt Grevers (June 27), and gymnast Anna Li (June 29 and July 1).

Chicago-­‐based reality TV - A new spate of reality shows are set in the city, including VH1’s “Mob Wives Chicago” and Style Network’s “Chicagolicious.” We investigate how well they actually reflect reality.

Dining trend: Poutine mania - This improbable French Canadian dish of cheese curds, French fries, and gravy is invading Chicago. We size up offerings from four local restaurants.